Chapter 50: The Banquet (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50: The Banquet (5)
‘I suppose it’s only natural that the Secret Palace would send someone to a Runcandel banquet.’
It was an encounter he had anticipated.
Jin stared at Siris for a few seconds before calmly pouring wine into her empty glass.
“The daughter of the Palace Master. The honor is mine.”
Jin took a sip of his own drink, subtly gauging her reaction.
— How could someone like you ever repay a favor to someone as great as me? Just consider it a pleasant memory. If you happen to think of me, send a greeting toward the Secret Palace every now and then. Well, goodbye!
Those were the words Siris had spoken back in Mamit.
At the time, she had been strangely kind to him. Not only had she immediately cleared him of suspicion in the Moonlight Well terror attack, but she had even personally applied healing resin to his shin.
It was a starkly different image from the Siris he knew only by rumor in his previous life.
Still, he didn't think much of it.
‘It was likely just the whim of a powerful person.’
That was how Jin had interpreted her behavior. Of course, in terms of actual strength, Siris hadn't been superior to him.
“To have achieved so much at fifteen, the same age as me… I am truly envious. I can only admire the blessed constitution of a Runcandel.”
Though she spoke with an air of profound envy, Siris was no ordinary girl herself. She was a genius in her own right, already at the mid-levels of 4-star and growing at an insane pace.
“I also consider it a blessing. However, the bloodline of the Secret Palace is a great blessing as well. I cannot even fathom how much the Palace Master must cherish you.”
“Yes, unlike you, I am an only child, so I receive a special kind of affection. Ah, would saying that be considered rude?”
Siris’s gaze softened slightly, her silver hair swaying with her movements.
“Not at all. The fact that I am the youngest is known to the entire world. If anything, I’m the one who envies you, Lady Siris. Having many siblings can be quite exhausting.”
“My, you say such things so nonchalantly. So many eyes are watching, so many ears listening. What will you do if your siblings question you later?”
“Isn’t complaining the privilege of the youngest? Haha. In any case, I would love to visit the Secret Palace if the opportunity arises. If I work hard to befriend you starting now, perhaps it won't just be a dream.”
“Haha, to think someone living in the Garden of Swords would be curious about the Secret Palace… Very well. I shall send you an invitation soon.”
Just as Jin was about to respond, Siris held out the wine bottle. His eyes instinctively followed the stream trickling into his glass, and for a few moments, the two remained silent.
‘She definitely recognized me. Isn't it about time she brought it up?’
A bit of soot wasn’t enough to completely hide a face, and he hadn't been able to disguise his voice. Jin was certain she knew who he was.
‘Frankly, it would be disappointing if the successor to the Secret Palace couldn't recognize me.’
Suddenly, Siris leaned in close.
“By the way, Young Master Jin Runcandel, there is one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Yes, Lady Siris. Please, go ahead.”
“Is the shin you injured back then all right now?”
As expected, the moment had arrived.
Jin smiled and shrugged.
“Yes, it’s fine. Thanks to a certain great person—one I couldn't possibly hope to repay—who personally applied resin to it.”
When Jin countered so nonchalantly, Siris’s brow furrowed.
“You’re more thick-skinned than you look, Young Master. In that case, you’ll need to explain why you were at the Moonlight Well in Mamit that day.”
“And why should I do that?”
“At the time, my subordinate, Ryu of the 7 Swords of the Secret Palace, failed to find the magic terrorist. It was a blow to my pride, and only later did I wonder if the boy I let go might have been the culprit.”
Screech.
Siris pulled her chair even closer. They were now so close that their faces were barely inches apart.
“I suppose one could think that. But magic? As you can see, I am a Runcandel. Do I look like the culprit? Since the day I was born, these hands have held only swords; they have never touched something like a mage’s staff.”
“Of course, I don't think it was you personally. However, you were likely carrying out a Runcandel mission in Mamit. And perhaps you hired a mage because the mission was too difficult for you to handle alone.”
Siris gritted her teeth as she continued.
“Furthermore, of all the people at the Moonlight Well that day, the only ones a Runcandel would bother assassinating were the members of the Secret Palace. As the captain of the 7 Swords, I cannot simply let this matter slide.”
Though she spoke calmly, her voice was thick with murderous intent.
The moment she saw Jin’s face at the banquet, she had become convinced he had come to Mamit under orders to assassinate her people.
And she had been foolish enough to show kindness to the very person who had attacked her subordinates.
‘She seems to be under the impression that I targeted the Secret Palace. Well, I almost caught them in the crossfire while trying to kill Alcaro, so she’s half-right.’
Reading her thoughts, Jin continued to play innocent.
“Hmm, the atmosphere was so pleasant a moment ago. I’m not sure why you’ve suddenly changed your tune, Lady Siris.”
“Hmph! Playing dumb until the very end, I see. Fine. If that’s how you want to play, I have my own ideas.”
“And what brilliant plan might that be?”
“I’ll drag you to the dueling grounds, beat you like a dog, and spit on that loathsome face of yours! I challenge you to a duel, Jin Runcandel.”
“Heavens…”
Jin hurriedly glanced around to see if anyone had overheard Siris’s sudden vulgarity.
Fortunately, because she had whispered while leaning in close, it seemed no one had.
“Do I need to say it louder? Let’s go. It’s time you paid for mocking me back then.”
At this point, a duel was unavoidable.
‘Someone of Siris’s caliber is the perfect opponent to test my current swordsmanship.’
The only daughter of the Palace Master, Siris Endorma. She was undoubtedly powerful for her age, but… Jin recalled his father’s words.
“Lady Siris, I am truly sorry, but I cannot accept the duel.”
“Lacking confidence?”
“Ah, it’s not that. My father gave me a strict warning. He told me never to fight anyone who looks weaker than me.”
The thin stem of the wine glass Siris was holding between two fingers snapped. Her clenched fist began to tremble violently.
“What… did you… just say?”
“Please don't misunderstand. I, too, wish to test my skills against yours, Lady Siris. But I cannot disobey my father’s command.”
“You son of a—!”
Siris glared at Jin with bloodshot eyes before letting out a long, slow sigh. Having seemingly regained her composure, she carefully placed the broken glass on the table.
“You seem to find mocking me quite amusing, Young Master Jin. In that case, shall I try mocking you for a change?”
Suddenly, Siris snatched Jin’s hand and pressed it against her thigh.
“Now, if I were to jump up, push you away, and scream, ‘Kyaa! Where do you think you’re touching?!’…”
Jin let out a short laugh and nodded as if he had no choice.
“If you want it that badly, I’ll oblige. Let’s leave quietly.”
“You should have said so from the start.”
The two stood up simultaneously and began to walk away.
However, the few people watching them couldn't help but completely misunderstand the situation.
“Unbelievable. Mary, the youngest just put his hand on her thigh… and it even looked like they were kissing. Can kids these days really move that fast just by making eye contact? Good grief, where on earth are they going?”
Dipus Runcandel, who was drinking wine with Mary at a nearby table, spoke up. From his angle, it had looked as though Jin had been covering Siris’s mouth to kiss her.
“There are plenty of empty rooms; they’ll find one. Mind your own business, Brother. At fifteen, they’re practically adults.”
“Gods. Were you like that at fifteen, too?”
“Why do you ask? Could you even handle the answer?”
“Never mind…”
“Just drink. Whether it’s the Palace Master’s daughter or our youngest, once they grow up a bit more, they won't be able to date as they please. They should enjoy it while they can.”
*
The dueling grounds were still quiet.
The brawlers and spectators wouldn't start flocking to the arena until after midnight. Jin and Siris were essentially kicking off the first duel of the Runcandel banquet.
It was for the best. Crushing her in front of everyone would have been too cruel.
As they entered the arena, the Guardian Knights offered a sword salute.
“Youngest Master. Have you come for a duel?”
“Yes. Keep the medical staff on standby, but dismiss everyone else for now. Ah, and bring us two usable swords.”
“Understood. We shall seal the dueling grounds until your match is concluded.”
The Guardian Knight was quick on the uptake, and Jin nodded in satisfaction.
“I’d appreciate that.”
Sensing the atmosphere, the medical staff also retreated to a waiting room.
Soon, only the two of them stood within the vast, circular arena. A Guardian Knight brought the swords, and Jin allowed Siris to choose first.
“Pick the one that fits your hand better, Lady Siris.”
“Jin Runcandel. You’re only a common 5-star, yet your arrogance pierces the heavens.”
Siris grabbed the first sword she touched without bothering to compare them.
The moment she gripped the hilt and settled into her stance, she became a different person. The rage in her eyes turned to ice, and the sword she held at a diagonal showed not the slightest tremor.
‘So this is it. My first time experiencing the swordsmanship of the Secret Palace I’ve only ever heard rumors of.’
A common 5-star.
There was a reason Siris described Jin that way. She knew he had not yet been initiated into the Runcandel clan’s various Secret Techniques and Decisive Techniques.
On the other hand, while Siris was only a mid-level 4-star, she was the sole successor of the Secret Palace. She had a clear reason to look down on Jin, despite his higher rank.
“Before we begin, make one promise,” Siris said.
“What is it?”
“If I win, you will tell me everything that happened in Mamit that day. Every single detail.”
“Fine. And if I win, the fact that you saw me that day never happened. We will be meeting for the first time today.”
“You must have something to hide. Come!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Jin closed the distance. He was about to press his advantage with his superior physical abilities when—
Crackle!
A sudden, unnatural chill enveloped Siris’s sword as it began to freeze over.
It was the source of the Secret Palace’s power, the very symbol of the Endorma bloodline that allowed them to stand dominant in the West Sea.
It was the Ten Thousand Ice Sword.